Last night’s third episode of HBO’s 24/7 provided us the perfect appetizer for what’s to come at the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. With the Capitals again winning games and the Penguins rolling along into their December 23rd match-up, the scene was set to help show how these teams would tackle each other and provided some insight as to what they think of each other.

Setting the stage for the big showdown was the tale of two rookies. Andrew Gordon for Washington was shown getting his first goal and getting heaps of love from his teammates after a big win over New Jersey. As for Ben Lovejoy of the Penguins, he too notched his first goal and his first NHL fight. He also earned his first terrifying moment in the league after taking a puck off his face. The end result of which was tough to watch and even more stomach turning after the team’s flight when Lovejoy’s face swelled up to make him look like a character from “The Hills Have Eyes.”

As for the main event of the third episode, the table was set for a showdown of teams that had it all working right. It was fitting that the game evened up and ended in a shootout but what made our ears perk up was what Pens coach Dan Bylsma thought of Michal Neuvirth after the first period. The Pens jumped out to an early lead on the Caps in that one and Bylsma told his team in the locker room that he thought Neuvirth was “shaky” and that they should get after him.

Neuvirth responded by clamping down and allowing the Caps the opportunity to get back in the game. Stepping up when you’re put on the spot is clearly a big deal and Neuvirth responded. What was interesting to see was how the teams responded to the shootout. The shootout, of course, is hotly debated as to whether or not people enjoy it and if the teams get fired up about it.

After Pascal Dupuis’ shootout winner, the answer is a definitive “yes” that the teams get into it. The Penguins were hooting and hollering while the Caps were down in the dumps after the skills competition loss. Read into it what you will, but I view it as the Caps being down for not getting the ultimate reward for getting back into the game and roaring back against the Pens.

With the Christmas break coming after that game, it afforded the HBO cameras the chance to see more downtime with the players and coaches and the cameras did not disappoint us offering us some classic moments, the biggest of which centered around Caps coach Bruce Boudreau’s Christmas shopping trip with his sons to find a gift for his wife. It wasn’t so much what he got his wife as it was Boudreau going cuckoo for Haagen-Dazs at 10 in the morning. Upon walking into the mall Boudreau says, “I smell food.” How do you top that? I want to party with Boudreau just so long as I don’t have to pick up the check.

Ever get the feeling that Coach Boudreau is the guy you have to usher out of the house at Thanksgiving? After being busted with sauce on his face in episode one and now his shopping trip nearly derailed by a feeding frenzy in the food court we’re thinking that Boudreau is in line to be the next host of Man v. Food if Adam Richman ever gives it up.

Penguins forward Mike Rupp getting a jab in on Caps defenseman Mike Green’s orange vespa by asking his daughter if her pink bike was the same thing Mike Green had. Priceless.

Rupp being an equal-time needler after saying he can’t get away from Sid after pointing at the picture of a kid on a Nerf gift his kids got for Christmas.

Eric Fehr of the Capitals spreading holiday cheer to folks in D.C.

Dan Bylsma living up to his “Disco” nickname playing XBox Kinect with his son. Disco Dan rides again.

Nicklas Backstrom celebrating a traditional Swedish Christmas at home in the States. Hey, seeing how others do their traditions is cool.

The closing montage of the episode made us want the game to be played immediately after it was over. Awesome stuff.

Next week we’ll get the full monty treatment of the lead up to and the playing of the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh. Expect nothing but the absolute best and I can’t wait to see what the camera views will capture here at Heinz Field because there’s only so much justice my own dinky little camera can bring to it. Tying in the end of Sidney Crosby‘s 25-game point streak and the Penguins coming into the game off a loss to the Islanders should help shape the drama beautifully.